How to Use PC Speakers on a TV Earphone Output Jack

If you are looking to improve the sound quality of telephone, one option would be to use the speakers connected to your personal computer. For those uninterested in tangling with subwoofers and surround sound wiring, hooking computer speakers up to a television is an intermediate option that makes a lot of sense. Even the simplest of modern two-speaker PC systems will give a marked improvement over the innate sound capabilities of many televisions and hooking them up is easy.

Skill level:

Easy

Other People Are Reading

Things you need

1/4-inch adaptor (optional)

Show MoreHide

Instructions

1

Plug the power cord of the speakers into an electrical socket or surge protector near your television. Since speakers often use one of the large, boxy plugs, you might need to unplug something else to make room for it. You can always rearrange your plugs or upgrade to a larger surge protector later.

2

Connect the audio cord to your television's headphone output, which might be on the front, back or side of the unit. Look closely for a drawing of headphones (an upside-down U with thick ends) or a green ring around a tiny circular hole. On some older televisions, the headphone output might be too large for your standard 3.5- millimetre jack. In this case, you'll need a simple 1/4-inch adaptor, which slips over the head of the jack to make it larger.

3

Position the speakers wherever you want them in your media cabinet using available cord lengths. Typically, there will be a tiny "L" on the back of one speaker and a tiny "R" on the back of the other, indicating which side of the television each speaker should be placed on for optimal sound.

Tips and warnings

Besides the speakers and the cord that connects them, there will be a power cord and a standard 3.5 millimetre headphone jack to carry the sound to the speakers from your audio source (computer, television or anything else with a headphone output). The headphone jack will usually be green.

Plug your speakers, televisions, computers and other home electronics into surge protectors to guard against sudden voltage spikes that could potentially damage them.